European society of endocrinology clinical practice guideline: Endocrine work-up in obesity

Obesity is an emerging condition, with a prevalence of ~20%. Al though the simple measurement of BMI is likely a simplistic approach to obesity, BMI is easily calculated, and there are currently no data showing that more sophisticated methods are more useful to guide the endocrine wo rk-up in obesity. An increased BMI leads to a number of hormonal changes. Additionally, concomitant hormonal diseases can be present in obesity and have to be properly diagnosed - which in turn might be more difficult d ue to alterations caused by body fatness itself. The present European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Guidelin e on the Endocrine Work-up in Obesity acknowledges the increased prevalence of many endocrine conditi ons in obesity. It is recommended to test all patients with obesity for thyroid function, given the high prevalence of hypothyroidism in obesity. For hypercortisolism, male hypogonadism and female gonadal dysfunct ion, hormonal testing is only recommended if case of clinical suspicion of an underlying endocrine disorder. The guideline underlines that weight loss in obesity should be emphasized as key to restoration of hormonal imbalanc es and that treatment and that the effect of treating endocrine disorders on weight loss is only modest.